We’ve seen it in Latin America and Europe — and now Israel. Fans of soccer — sometimes even players — behave like fools, or worse.
Soccer fans, particularly of Beitar Jerusalem, are upset with their team for signing two Muslim Chechen players, so they chant “Death to the Arabs” and “Burn their village.”
Shortly thereafter, an unknown, probably angry and embittered arsonist, sets fire to the team’s trophy room, heavily damaging it.
A few days later, as the Israeli Arab team Bnai Sakhnin faces off against Beitar Jerusalem (yes, the same team), fans of both teams grow unruly, hurling taunts and insults against each other. Seventy-five of them are ejected from Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium.
It’s not a new phenomenon, even in Israel, but what we still don’t understand is what soccer has to do with racism. Aren’t sports supposed to be entertainment, an escape from ugliness like this? Isn’t this supposed to be fun?
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
